Dynamical relaying can yield zero time lag neuronal synchrony despite long conduction delays.
Multielectrode recordings have revealed zero time lag synchronization among remote cerebral cortical areas. However, the axonal conduction delays among such distant regions can amount to several tens of milliseconds. It is still unclear which mechanism is giving rise to isochronous discharge of widely distributed neurons, despite such latencies. Here, we investigate the synchronization properties of a simple network motif and found that, even in the presence of large axonal conduction delays, distant neuronal populations self-organize into lag-free oscillations. According to our results, cortico-cortical association fibers and certain cortico-thalamo-cortical loops represent ideal circuits to circumvent the phase shifts and time lags associated with conduction delays.
Vicente
Raul
R
Department of Neurophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Deutschordenstrasse 46, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany.
Gollo
Leonardo L
LL
Mirasso
Claudio R
CR
Fischer
Ingo
I
Pipa
Gordon
G
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*